Have you recently lost, forgotten or had your Railcard stolen? Don’t panic! These things can happen and it’s easily fixable. In this guide, we break down the next simple steps (and also how this can be avoided with a digital Railcard).
What do I do if I’ve lost my Railcard?
Firstly - don’t worry! It’s human to misplace items and always seems to happen at the least opportune times. No need to beat yourself up about it.
The unfortunate news is that, if you have lost your Railcard mid-travel, you must pay the full fare of the original ticket - Railcards are only valid if presentable on the journey. Explain the situation to the ticket officer, who will then charge the difference onboard.
The great news is that you can easily renew your Railcard, no matter what type it is. However, your next steps will depend on where you brought your Railcard from originally:
I purchased my Railcard online
In the event of loss or damage, anyone who has purchased their Railcard online is entitled to one replacement Railcard with an administration fee of £10. Whether it’s damaged, lost or stolen, you can have your Railcard back in no time.
Simply log back into the website you purchased the Railcard through and order a replacement online. Your details should already be loaded in the system, meaning the process shouldn’t take much time. Note that you can only apply for a replacement following at least 10 days from the original data of the online purchase.
I purchased my Railcard at a train station
In the event of loss or damage, simply head to any staffed station and hand over the completed ‘receipt’ portion of your original application form - unfortunately, you won’t be able to receive a replacement without this.
Much like with online-registered Railcards, you’ll be required to pay a £10 administration fee for the replacement card, and you’ll need to provide a new photo of yourself also.
What to do if my Railcard was stolen
It’s one thing to lose a Railcard, but having it stolen may mean you need to take a few extra steps.
If you’ve reported the stolen Railcard to the police and they have given you a crime reference number or documents, then a free Railcard will be available.
You will be required to log in to your National Rail account and apply for the replacement process, where you will then be allowed to quote the crime reference number. If your ticket was purchased at a station, present the crime reference number at any staffed station and apply for a free replacement. Alternatively, or if you have any doubts, you can get in touch with National Rail directly through the following means:
Phone number: 03457 48 49 50
Email: relations@nationalrail.co.uk
Did you know about Digital Railcards?
Did you know through Trip.com you’re able to purchase digital Railcards, meaning you won’t ever have to worry about losing your physical card again? Not only that, but your journey will become simpler as it’s stored automatically on the Trip.com app alongside your ticket.
And, even if you lose the device your Railcard is stored on, you’ll find it safely in your account when you log back in through another device!
Consider the switch to digital today. Find out more about digital Railcards with Trip.com here.
Article image provided by Santeri Viinamäki